HD frame flex?

Recently noticed a degree of flex coming from somewhere in the rear-end, I recently rebuild the rear with new lower bearings and a whole new upper linkage and something feels amiss, Tyres are at 30psi and the wheels are taught, so I know its neither of these. Could it be a problem with the maxle or the frame itself?

Check the spoke tension on your wheels. The Ibis/Stan's wheels that came with my HD were tensioned pretty low and were pretty flexy (and I am a small 150 lb guy). They were flexing enough that they made a terrible creaking noise where the spokes contact each other when they cross. I tensioned them up and all was well with the world. Same deal on a friend's HD with the same wheels.

The other thing that feels like that is if you are running big tires on narrow rims or low pressure in the tires. At a certain point the sidewall folds over and it feels like the rear of the bike is flexy. With some wheel and tire combinations you either have to over pressurize the tire or run smaller tires (or ones with stiffer sidewalls) to solve it.

I have had rides where I was certain something was terribly wrong with my bike (pulling over to inspect it etc.) only to figure out that the rear tire was folding over.

The other thing that feels like that is if you are running big tires on narrow rims or low pressure in the tires. At a certain point the sidewall folds over and it feels like the rear of the bike is flexy. With some wheel and tire combinations you either have to over pressurize the tire or run smaller tires (or ones with stiffer sidewalls) to solve it.

I have had rides where I was certain something was terribly wrong with my bike (pulling over to inspect it etc.) only to figure out that the rear tire was folding over.

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It could be that, I run Stan's crest rims and Schwalbe Nobby Nic Gatestars with snakeskin sidewalls tubeless and this morning they were about 25psi, so not mega low. I know with my old non-snakeskin nics that they did fold over, but now with tougher tyres, I'm really stumped as to why its happening

flows are way over-built for my needs, I'm a light, smooth rider and have had zero issues with my crests. Yes they could be abit stiffer, but I'll be changing the wheelset once I finish uni and funds allow.

Could be loose linkage, mine loosened up on my SL. Flip the bike upside down, see if you can flex rear triangle relative to the front. If you can, tighten linkage as required. Prolly a good idea to check bearings as well

Yes, check your links and shock mounts,. I had a problem where the upper shock mounts and upper link would go loose ever couple rides and make the rear feel like it was flexing. I had to check for loose bolts every ride. I cleaned the threads of any grease and used a little lock tight, a good torque wrench and they have not came loose since.

^^^This was the cause of a slightly loose feeling on my HD early on. I mistakingly thought flipping the lever on the end of the maxle would have the same cinching effect an old-school QR has, but I learned it doesn't. So you have to have the maxle pretty tight in its threads to avoid this.

I've experienced the same effect and came to find the Maxlewas the culprit too. You cannot get enough tension on the lever by itself, if you try, you run the risk of breaking it. You need to use a 6mm Allen wrench on the opposite end to tighten it, this makes a huge difference, try it!

Not the cleanest 12x142 Ive used either, might check mine Ethan cheers, not had any flex issues, bike is stiff as hell, saying that ridden alot of carbon bikes and none compare to the feel of the HD cant explain it but its just bang on in all the right places on the trail.

I find the maxle a pia, hard to tighten intially dosent seem to line up well hard to keep the handle in the groove for speedy wheel on wheel off miyagi speed style.

Used the DT system on Santacruz, Specialised and it works great, can this be used on the HD/Ibis frames?

Unfortunately they are different thread pitches! The bike is very stiff, but if that Maxle is not tight, at least as tight as it is meant to be, you can generate wheel flex...like the frame feels like its not doing what it is supposed to be doing! The Syntace (SC, Spec...) system is much better!